Combination bathtub and seat



April 9 11941. J. L. THOMAS 2.236.927

COMBINATION BATHTUB AND SEAT Filed Sept. 7, 1939 Zhwentor (Ittorneg.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION BATHTUB AND SEAT Joseph L. Thomas, St. Louis, Mo. Application September 1,1939, Serial No. 293,743

I (Cl. 4-185) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and usetul improvements in combination bathtub and seats, the peculiarities of which will be hereinaiter fully described and claimed.

The objects 01' my invention are to provide 'means first, for disposing a bathtub seat at various levels above the bottom of the tub so as to allow its use as a seat therein for persons of difterent height and length of leg, and also for different uses of the seat, such as when taking a sitz bath, or bathing the feet only; second, for supporting a seat at points in the sides of a tub below the top of the tub; third, for disposing such a seat at any point along the length of a tub in any the adjusted positions of the height of said seat; fourth, for disposing the seat at difierent heights without changing its longitudinal location in the tub; fifth, for inserting such a seat in its supported position in the walls of a tub below the top of the tub at a certain point in the length in the tub, and then adjusting said seat longitudinally in the tub; and other objects hereinafter described and claimed.

It is known in the prior art that a seat has been supported from the top of a tub providing a seat proper at the level of the top; also, that such a seat proper has been hung by supporting arms having prongs that rest on the upper side edges oi a tub so as to provide a seat portion below the top of the tub.

My invention provides multiple heights for location 01' the seat proper by multiple levels of support which are below the top of the tub. and allows of locating said seat at any points longitudinally in the tub at any of said adjustments oi'levelr." V

In theaccompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view 01 a tub with my improvements applied thereto:

Fig. 2 across section of Fig. 1 on the line 2-2;

Fig. 3 an enlarged cross section of Fig. 1 on i the line 3-3 indicating the means for inserting the seat at a lower level in the tub, and for disprongs from the end of such a seat, so as to admit them to said lower recess;

Fig. 6 an isometric detail view of a drop seat adapted for use in a tub for adjustment to various heights therein; and

Fig. 7 a similar view of a straight seat adapted for use as above stated.

Referring to the drawing the numeral i designates a seat proper consisting of side bars 2-2 spaced apart by end bars 3-3 and provided with a covering t of fabric such as canvas. At the four comers formed by the intersection of said side and end bars 2 and 3, extensions 5 at right angles to said seat form legs that are turned outward to form prongs 6 which support the seat proper by engagement with the inner sides of tub as will be now described.

The inner side faces 01' the tub are provided near the top of each side with a recess 8 extending downward from the top and horizontally inward towards the center of the tub forming a shoulder 8 for receiving the said prongs 6 of the seat previously described. When the legs ii extend downward from said prongs, the seat propor is disposed below the plane of the shoulders 8 in the tub and the seat proper is located at a height corresponding thereto. The seat can be adjusted at any lengthwise position in the tub by sliding the prongs along the longitudinal recesses t as indicated in'Fig. 1.

When the seat proper is reversed and the legs extend downward therefrom to the supporting prongs resting on the shoulders 9 as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the height of the seat proper is above the top of the tub. This position is available for supporting any article or material that it may be desired to support above the top of the tub while being washed therein.

This samedrop seat can be located at other heights within the tub by providing recesses 8' e in the sides of the tub below the shoulders 9.

posing it at a higher level by reversing the seat the vertical grooves for allowing the entrance of- Such a lower recess in each inner face is shown in the enlarged sectional view Fig. 3 providing supporting shoulders 9' for the prongs 6. In order to insert these prongs in this lower recess,

one inner face of the tub has vertical grooves i0,

Figs. 3 and 5, spaced apart corresponding to the space between the end prongs 8 and enlarging downward to the lower recess 8' in vertical arcs struck from the opposite recess 8. Thus the prongs at one end of the seat can be inserted in the longitudinal recess 8' of one inner face of the tub, and the prongs at the opposite end or the seat can pass downward through the vertical grooves l till they rest upon the shoulder 9' as shown in Fig. 3.

When the legs 6 of the seat extend downward from the prongs resting on the lower shoulder 9' @the seat proper is disposed near the bottom of the tub and in suitable position for taking a 'sitz bath.

When it is desired to locate the seat proper higher up in the tub than as Just described, the prongs of the seat are removed from the lower recesses, the seat proper is reversed and the prongs returned to said recesses so as to locate the seat proper at a higher level as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Thus by means of the upper and lower recesses forming the shoulders 9 and 9', four heights of the seat proper above the bottom of the tub can be arranged in combination with the drop seat described. Also the end prongs thus disposed in either pair of said upper and lower recesses, can he slid along in the recesses to locate the seat at -,.any point lengthwise in the tub, in both the normal drop seat and reversed seat positions of said seat.

While I have described a pair of opposing recesses in each of two horizontal planes at the sides of the tub, it is evident that multiple pairs of recesses may be provided similar to the recesses 8' and at various heights in the sides of .such a tub; and that each opposing pair of recesses in combination with said drop seat disposed respectively ir. its normal or in its reversed position, provides two heights of the seat proper above thebottom of the tub.

While I have described the seat as having the end prongs connected by legs with the seat -pr0per, I may provide a modified form of seat such'as shown in Fig. 7. In this form the prongs B are extensions from the side bars 2 in the same horizontal plane, and are spaced apart by end bars 3 forming strap connections with the side bars; or the prongs may be spaced apart by end bars similar to those shown in Figs. 2 and 6, or otherwise.

Such a straight seat as shown in Fig. 7, when similarly inserted in the lower groove 8', will provide a seat proper in the same horizontal plane as the shoulders 9', and thus afford a seat intermediate of the heights provided by the drop seat shown in Fig. 3. Also such a straight seat may be located on the upper shoulders 9 and provide a seat proper at corresponding level.

Thus it is evident that a large variety'of heights of the seat proper from the bottom of the motes safety in such action, since a person using my seat can easily rise to a standing position the same as when rising from a chair, instead of the usual manner in which he grasps the top of the tub with wet hands and pulls himself up. Also a sitting position is preferred by aged people in taking a shower. With my seat adjusted to the desired height and under the shower, it can be utilized by them with less liability of stumbling than when in a standing position in the shower which partially blinds them.

Referring again to the recesses, it will be seen that each end of the recesses is curved to blend with the adjacent inner face of the tub. The same curved-out, stream-lined arrangement is provided for the lower recesses. This is to facilitate cleaning and is desired for sanitary reasons and to improve the appearance of the recesses.

Referring again to Fig. 6, the prongs 6 may be single as shown at the left in said figure or the prong may be doubled as shown at 6" at the opposite end. In the latter form, they are connected by an upper end bar 3" in the same vertical plane as the legs for practical and artistic reasons which may make such double prongs and connecting bar the preferred construction.

The canvas covering for the seat proper is preferably in the form of a sleeve open at both ends so that it can be slipped over the prongs and legs and down upon the side bars 2 as shown in Fig. 6. It can thus be readily removed when desired for repair or other reasons. The said canvas covering may be otherwise applied and secured to the side bars.

Two seats, either drop seat or straight, may be disposed at respective levels. For instance, a drop seat may be disposed at the lowest level for use as a foot rest, while utilizing another seat disposed at any one of the other levels for sitting thereon, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

I claim:

1. The combination with a bathtub having multiple grooves substantially its full length on each inner face forming supporting shoulders at varied heights and having curved entrance por tions blending from said inner face into the grooves, of a fabric-covered rigid metal frame forming a seat having end prongs integral with the frame adapted to pass said entrance portions to rest on said shoulders at respective heights in any adjusted position in the length of the tub, whereby said seat can be disposed at substantially any point lengthwise of the tub as required and at each of said varied heights as desired, and support the weight of the user in each adjusted position of the seat.

2. A bathtub as in the above claim, said prongs being horizontal on the ends of rigid legs that are at right angles to the seat, the prongs and seat being in difierent horizontal parallel planes,

-whereby the seat is reversible and can be adjusted at two levels for each selected height of prong engagement with respective shoulders.

JOSEPH L. THOMAS. 

